Indirect lighting fixture



March 6, 1951 M. BODIAN INDIRECT LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 28, 1949 FIG.

INVENTOR MARCUS BODIAN ATTORNEY March 6, 1951 M. BODIAN 2,544,581

INDIRECT LIGHTING'FIXTURE Filed March 28, 1949 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR mcus BODMN ATTORNEY Patentecl Mar. 6, I951 UNITED; STATESPATENT OFFICE INDIRECT LIGHTING FIXTURE Marcus Bodian, Los Angeles,Calif., assignor to Sunbeam Lighting Company, Los Angeles, Calif apartnership Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,815

6 Claims (01. 240-78) 1 This invention relates to an indirect lightingfixture and in particular to a fixture for use with a reflector typehigh brightness lamp.

One object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive lighting fixtureutilizing a reflector type high brightness lamp. Another object is toprovide an indirect lighting fixture utilizing a reflector type highbrightness lamp which is free from bright surfaces when viewed from thefloor area illuminated by said light. Another object is to provide anindirect lighting fixture utilizing a reflector type high brightnesslamp which permits the removal and insertion of the lamp withoutdisassembly of the fixture. A further object is to provide. an indirectlighting fixture which presents. to the observer below the fixture nosurfaces whose brightness is greater than the reflected light from theceiling. A still further object is to provide a lighting fixture forindirect lighting which is rugged, free from glass or other shatterablcelements, and whose surfaces may be readily cleaned or refinished.

These and other objects are attained bymy invention which will beunderstood from the following description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawing which forms a part here.- of, in which Figure 1 isan elevational view partly in section taken on the line l--l of Figure2;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of. my fixture;

Figure 3 is an elevational view partly in section taken on the line 3-3of Figure 4, showing a modified form of my invention; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the modification shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of my invention is shownin Figures 1 and 2. The fixture is intended for association with asocket ll supported from the ceiling C in the conventional manner by theuse of various fittings attached to an outlet box, the details of whichare not shown. A cylindrical cover 12 .hides the details of the socketand its attachment to the outlet box, etc., the cover being firmlyattached at the ceiling by a canopy I3. The re- Coaxial verticallydisposed cylindrical shields ll, 2|, and 26, preferably made of materialsuch as sheet aluminum, are provided around the lower half of the lamp,and lower and upper inverted conical reflectors are provided to furtherdiffuse the light from the lamp, as will be now described in detail. Theinner cylindrical shield I! is preferably long enough to extend abovethe boundary line l5 defining the upper limit of the reflector surface,and to extend below the position approximately levelwith or slightlybelow the lowermost tip of the lamp bulb. The inner shield l'! isprovided with an inverted conical reflector l8 which extends from theupper rim E9 of the shield 11, the lower opening of the reflector beinglarge enough to admit the lamp therethrough. The inner shield I! issupported from the cover l2 by the rods I4 spaced around itscircumference, said rods being conveniently provided at their ends withhooks [6 which engage holes in the lower end of the cover and in theupper rim l 9 of the. inner shield I 7. Three rods Mare shown in theillustrative embodiment but any suitable number for the proper supportof the shields may be used. A coaxial intermediate shield 2] is providedoutside of said inner cylindrical shield, the length of thisintermediate. shield 2| being less than the length of the shield IT andthe top edge 22 being disposed below the upper rim I9 of the innercylindrical shield H. The lower edge 23 of the intermediary shield 2| ispreferably slightly above the lower rim 2,0 of the inner shield IT. Theintermediate shield, H is conveniently supported from the inner shieldI! by bracket bars 24 which are spot.-

' welded at their two ends respectively to the outmaining portions ofthe fixture are supported to the brightest part of the lighting element.or

filament in the lamp...

side surface of the inner shield H and the inside surface of theintermediate shield 2i. An outer cylindrical shield 26 is also provided,this being disposed coaxially with the other shields. ii and 2!, andbeing spaced from the intermediary shield 2| by a distance approximatelyequal to the distance from the inner cylindrical shield ll to theintermediate ring 2|. The top edge 2'l of the outer shield 26 isarranged at the same level as the upper rim I9 of the inner cylindricalshield and the lower edge of the outer shield is above the lower edge 23of the intermediary shield. The length of the. outer shield 26 isapproximately the same as the intermediary shield 25. The outer shield26 is conveniently supported from the intermediate shield 21 by bracketbars 29 which are spot-welded at their ends respectively to the, outersurface of the shield 2i and to the inner surface of the outer shield26. An upper inverted conical reflector 31' is also provided in thespace between the upper rim I 9 of the inner shield I1 and the loweredge of the socket cover I2, this reflector 3| being convenientlysupported on the suspending rods I4, slots 32 for each rod l4 extendingfrom the lower edge of the reflector so that it is rigidly held in placeon said rods.

The modified form of my invention, shown in Figures 3 and 4, consists ingeneral of a similar arrangement of the socket II, the socket cover l2,the canopy l3 and the suspending rods l4 holding the inner cylindricalshield I! with its attached lower conical reflector l8 and the upperconical reflector 3! as previously described for the preferred formshown in Figures 1 and 2. The intermediate shield 2| is eliminated inthis modification, and the outer shield 26 is supported upon radialvanes 34 which are disposed between the inner and outer shields l1 and26 extending from the upper to the lower edges of both shields. Thevanes 34 are spaced apart in the annular space between the inner andouter rings, six being shown. The vanes cut off any direct view of thebright surface of the lamp or other surfaces to an observer located inthe floor area illuminated by the lamp. This alternative form of mylighting fixture is particularly adapted for the smaller sizes utilizinglower voltage lamps.

My fixture is especially adapted for lamps having large bulbs of which aportion at the end away from the socket connection may be silvered orotherwise made of light reflecting quality.

Such lamps using incandescent filaments are in common use now, but anyhigh brightness electrical light source may be used within a globularbulb.

The advantages of my indirect lighting fixture will be apparent. Theconstruction is simple and inexpensive. The lamp may be replaced Withoutdisturbing or dismantling the fixture in any way. The lamps may bechanged by means of a lamp changer on a long pole without requiring theuse of ladders or other equipment. The light is evenly diffused and noexcessive or eye-hurting bright spots are visible to persons in thevicinity either directly below or at the side of the fixture. Theportions of the fixture near the lamp do not overheat, being cooled bythe draft of air induced by the heating passing through the shields andreflectors.

I claim:

1. An indirect lighting fixture utilizing ceiling reflection and adaptedfor use with a bulbous reflector type high intensity lamp comprising aplurality of vertically disposed cylindrical shields arranged coaxially,including an inner shield disposed around and at a distance from thelight source, the length of said inner shield being greater than thelength of any other shield and its lower edge being below the lower edgeof any other shield, and an outer shield having its top edge level withthe top edge of said inner shield; bracket means attached to said innershield for supporting said outer shield; a lower inverted cone reflectordepending from the upper edge of said inner shield and substantiallycovering the central opening of said inner shield, said reflector havingan axial aperture to admit a reflector type bulbous lamp; an upperinverted cone reflector disposed above the upper edge of said innershield; means to support said upper shield; intermediate shielding meansdisposed between said inner and said outer shield; and means to suspendsaid fixture from the ceiling.

2. An indirect lighting fixture utilizing ceiling 4. reflection andadapted for use with a bulbous reflector type high intensity lampcomprising a .socket cover afiixed to an overhead support; a

plurality of vertically disposed shields arranged to coaxially surroundsaid lamp, the inner shield being suspended below said socket cover, thelength of said inner shield being greater than the length of any othershield and its lower edge being below the lower edge of any othershield, and an outer shield having its top edge level with the top edgeof said inner shield; bracket means attached to said inner shield forsupporting said outer shield; a lower inverted cone reflector dependingfrom the upper edge of said inner shield and substantially covering thecentral opening of said inner shield, said reflector having an axialaperture to admit a bulbous reflector type lamp; an upper inverted conereflector disposed above th upper edge of said inner shield; means tosupport said upper shield; and an intermediate coaxial cylindricalshielding disposed between said inner and said outer shields, the upperedge of said intermediate shield being lower than the upper edges ofsaid inner and said outer shields. 3. An indirect lighting fixtureutilizing ceiling reflect.on and adapted for use with a bulbousreflector type high intensity lamp comprising a socket cover affixed toan overhead support; a plurality of vertically disposed shields arrangedto coaxially surround said lamp, the inner shield being suspended belowsaid socket cover, the length of said inner shield being greater thanthe length of any other shield and it lower edge being below the loweredge of any other shield, and the outer shield having its top edge levelwith the top edge of said inner shield; rod suspending means forsuspending said inner shield from said socket cover; bracket meansattached to said inner shield for supporting said outer shield; a lowerinverted cone reflector depending from the upper edge of said innershield and substantially covering the central opening of said innershield, said reflector having an axial aperture to admit a bulbousreflector type lamp; an upper inverted cone reflector disposed above theupper edge of said inner shield, said reflector being provided withslots arranged to engage said rod suspending means; and an intermediatecoaxial cylindrical shield disposed between said inner and said outershields, the upper edge of said intermediate shield being lower than theupper edges of said inner and said outer shields. 4. An indirectlighting fixture utilizing ceiling reflection and adapted for use with abulbous reflector type incandescent lamp comprising a socket coveraflixed to an overhead support; a plurality of vertically disposedshields arranged to coaxially surround said lamp, the inner shield beingsuspended below said socket cover, the length of said inner shield beinggreater than the length of any other shield and its lower edge beingbelow the lower edge of any other shield, and an outer shield having itstop edge level with the top edge of said inner shield; bracket meansattached to said inner shield for supporting said outer shield; a lowerinverted cone reflector depending from the upper edge of said innershield and substantially covering the central opening of said innershield, said reflector having an axial aperture to admit a bulbousreflector type lamp; an upper inverted cone reflector disposed above theupper edge of said inner shield; means to support said upper shield; andvertically disposed thin sheet shields disposed radially between saidinner and said outer cylindrical shields.

5. An indirect lighting fixture utilizing ceiling reflection and adaptedfor use with a bulbous reflector type lamp comprising a pair ofvertically disposed cylindrical shields arranged to coaxially surroundsaid lamp, including the inner shield disposed around and at a distancefrom the light source, the length of said inner shield being greaterthan the length of any other shield and its lower edge being below thelower edge of any other shield, and an outer shield having its top edgelevel with are top edge of said inner shield; bracket means attached tosaid inner shield for supporting said outer shield; a lower invertedcone reflector depending from the upper edge of said inner shield andsubstantially covering the central opening of said inner shield, saidreflector having an axial aperture to admit a reflector type bulbouslamp; an upper inverted cone reflector disposed above the upper edge ofsaid inner shield; means to support said upper shield; verticallydisposed thin sheet shields disposed radially between said inner andsaid outer cylindrical shields, and means to suspend said fixture fromthe ceiling.

6. An indirect lighting fixture utilizing ceiling reflection and adaptedfor use with a bulbous reflector type high intensity lamp comprising asocket cover aflixed to an overhead support; a plurality of verticallydisposed shields arranged to coaxially surround said lamp, the innershield being suspended below said socket cover, the length of said innershield being greater than the length of any other shield and its loweredge being below the lower edge of any other shield.

6 and the outer shield having its top edgelevel with the top edge ofsaid inner shield; rod suspending means for suspending said inner shieldfrom said socket cover; bracket means attached to said hield forsupporting said outer shield; a lower nverted cone reflector dependingfrom the upper edge of said inner shield and substantially covering thecentral opening of said inner shield, saidre'flector having an axialaperture to admit a bulbous reflector type lamp; an upper inverted conereflector disposed above the upper edge of said'dnner shield, saidreflector being provided wit ots arranged to engage said rod suspendingmeans; an intermediate coaxial cylindrical shi ddisposed between saidinner and said outer shi' ds, the upper edge of said intermediate shieldbei ower than the upper edges of said inner and id outer shields; andvertically disposed thin'fsheet shields disposed radially between saidinner and said outer cylindrical shields.

: v MARCUSBODIAN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS

